Are you ready for… President Tebow?

posted at 5:15 pm on February 4, 2012 by Jazz Shaw

TIM TEBOW, ON POSSIBLE FUTURE IN POLITICS (to golf commentator Dave Feherty on a “Feherty Live” special from the Super Bowl, airing on the Golf Channel at 10 p.m. tonight): “I don’t know — it could be something in my future. If it’s something I care about, possibly.”

If it’s something he cares about? Well, that’s a ringing endorsement for sure. But even that dangling, one-off comment was enough to send Huffpo to the barricades.

Though Tebow has sparked controversy over his strong religious views, the 2012 Republican presidential candidates have worked to associate themselves with the famous quarterback. Texas governor Rick Perry — who dropped out of the GOP primary race ahead of the South Carolina primary — even once compared himself to the athlete during a debate, saying “I hope I am the Tim Tebow of the Iowa caucuses.”

Despite the fact that several GOP hopefuls have reached out to the NFL star hoping to win his backing, Tebow has yet to endorse a presidential candidate.

Well, he’d be running as a Republican, natch. I mean, the Democrats aren’t going to nominate somebody who paints references to Biblical scripture under his eyes when he suits up for the big game. But when would he run? He’s not going to be 35 years old until 2022, so the ’24 elections would be his first shot. By that time, President Chris Christie should be just finishing up his second term, and barring a revocation of the 22nd amendment, he’d have to step aside for the Big Man.

But even that is problematic. If he stays with the Broncos for his entire career, Christie might be more likely to toss his support to a potential President Mark Sanchez. (I’ll give you a moment to let that thought settle in, along with the possibility of Kim Kardashian being the FLOTUS.) Maybe Tebow should go to the Jets after next season? That should lock up Christie’s endorsement, given that they’re a New Jersey team, after all.

President Tebow… You can almost smell the #winning, can’t you? An additional bonus is that late night comics always make fun of Republican presidents. In the case of Tebow, they’ve already got plenty of practice.

Jazz, you missed the most obvious advantage to Tebow running for President, namely that to win the White House a Republican needs to take Florida–and who better than the greatest Gator to grace Gainesville to do THAT?

Blowback

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Yup, for those who don’t know (apparently that includes Jazz Shaw), Tebow was born in Metro Manila, Philippines.

itsnotaboutme on February 4, 2012 at 5:39 PM

Tim Tebow was born in the Philippines, and not at a military base. Unfortunately our laws do not permit him to become President.

eski502 on February 4, 2012 at 6:59 PM

B.S. Like J.E. Dyer said:

A child is automatically granted citizenship in the following cases:
1.Both parents were U.S. citizens at the time of the child’s birth
2.The parents are married
3.At least one parent lived in the United States prior to the child’s birth. INA 301(c) and INA 301(a)(3) state, “and one of whom has had a residence.”

The FAM (Foreign Affairs Manual) states “no amount of time specified.”

A person’s record of birth abroad, if registered with a U.S. consulate or embassy, is proof of citizenship. They may also apply for a passport or a Certificate of Citizenship to have their citizenship recognized.

Plenty of US citizens are born abroad and are still full US citizens. My sister and I were born in Japan because Dad was in the Army. There is no asterisk next to my citizenship.

Instead of a birth certificate, I have a “Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States of America”. It has the following info for my parents:

– Full Name
– Date of Birth
– Place of Birth
– Present Address
– Address in the United States
– Evidence of US Citizenship
– Precise Periods of Physical Presence in the United States
– Precise Periods of Any Service Abroad in the Armed Forces of the United States
– Place of Marriage
– Date of Marriage

I feel bad for Tim Tebow. He’s a nice kid who works hard to be a good football player and to be a good man but gets tons of ridiculous questions, like this one. Do they ask everyone they interview if they want to be POTUS someday? I’m sure he has no idea of what he wants to do that far in the future. In the near future, he just wants to play football.

If he does have political aspirations, I ask that he actually work his way up and have real leadership and executive experience, unlike so many of our candidates these days.

Common Sense on February 4, 2012 at 7:24 PM

Please, do me a favor and read the Constitution before declaring something to be b.s. The requirements under the Constitution are not simply that someone be a citizen. There is an age requirement, and there is a requirement on where you are born, irregardless of your citizenship.

“No person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President”

The use of “Natural Born” was intentional. The Founders didn’t want a foreign born President. Specifically, they didn’t want wealthy foreigners to be able to move to the U.S. and buy their way to the Presidency. If you are to make an originalist reading of the constitution it is pretty concrete that natural born means born on U.S. soil. If you need further proof, tell me why when writing the sections for Senators and Reps they only specified that individuals should be “citizens” not natural born. Or why they made the exception for those in the country at the time of the Constitutions adoption. You may parse the original meaning if you wish but unfortunately, as a matter of law, Tim Tebow may not become the President unless you amend the constitution.

You may parse the original meaning if you wish but unfortunately, as a matter of law, Tim Tebow may not become the President unless you amend the constitution.

eski502 on February 4, 2012 at 8:03 PM

Look up Natural Born Citizen before you continue to make an ass of yourself. This isn’t some gray area, Tim Tebow is a natural born citizen and if you’d take it to the Supreme Court and you would get a 9-0 ruling saying so and a stern lecture on being an idiot.

“Well, he’d be running as a Republican, natch. I mean, the Democrats aren’t going to nominate somebody who paints references to Biblical scripture under his eyes when he suits up for the big game likes America.”

Look up Natural Born Citizen before you continue to make an ass of yourself. This isn’t some gray area, Tim Tebow is a natural born citizen and if you’d take it to the Supreme Court and you would get a 9-0 ruling saying so and a stern lecture on being an idiot.

lowandslow on February 4, 2012 at 8:24 PM

No.

The current SCOTUS would not take the case, because it would open up the 0bama eligibility can, and Clarence Thomas is on record as saying that the SCOTUS is dodging that one. He said it in a joking way, but he said it, nevertheless, during a court session.

The use of “Natural Born” was intentional. The Founders didn’t want a foreign born President. Specifically, they didn’t want wealthy foreigners to be able to move to the U.S. and buy their way to the Presidency. If you are to make an originalist reading of the constitution it is pretty concrete that natural born means born on U.S. soil.

Has anyone ever provided writings or quotes from the Founders which back up this Birther-spawned interpretation of the constitution?

The use of “Natural Born” was intentional. The Founders didn’t want a foreign born President. Specifically, they didn’t want wealthy foreigners to be able to move to the U.S. and buy their way to the Presidency. If you are to make an originalist reading of the constitution it is pretty concrete that natural born means born on U.S. soil.

Has anyone ever provided writings or quotes from the Founders which back up this Birther-spawned interpretation of the constitution?

libfreeordie on February 4, 2012 at 10:23 PM

Problem is, the Constitution defines who is “eligible” to run for President, but doesn’t define what a “natural born citizen” is.

Maybe if the choice was between him and, say, a child molesting, reincarnated Hitler. I’d probably vote for him then. Without that though? Not in a million years. I’d vote for Romney first. Or worse, Obama.

Anyways, Tebow seems to be a decent human being, and there are few enough people like that in politics, but the ability to throw a ball does not equate to skill in governing. I’m sure walking down the street you pass a handful of people who are just as decent.

I’m sure someone at Shands Hospital in Hog Town will fudge a short form BC for Timmy. Assuming we still have a country and elections in ’24, he’d make a better one than what we have now. I doubt he’s interested and will probably find more charitable work to do like Danny Boy.

Well, after he’s older, maybe, depends on what his platform is. I could not care any less about sports if I tried. It’s just not on my radar as something of even the slightest interest.

Let him run when he’s eligable, if he wins, then people who need a reason to be offended by Christians will find one. God knows they always do. What I find infinitely amusing is the RAGE they feel,.. I mean some serious outrage, that Tim speaks of the faith which dare not be spoken…. lest the fastideous athiest, and the on occasion self righteous,.. the annoyed agnostic,.. be shaken out of their apathy and self indulgences for a quick moment.

Tebow’s real crime, is he causes people to reflect on God, and where they stand on him,.. that’s what makes them nutz.

They’ve been far to successful in banning God from the dialoge for some “punk” kid to rock the boat now..

Problem is, the Constitution defines who is “eligible” to run for President, but doesn’t define what a “natural born citizen” is.

Have at it!

Del Dolemonte on February 4, 2012 at 11:50 PM

Exactly! The question is not “birther-spawned” either. It’s been a controversy that goes back a long way. Congress went out of their way to provide a resolution to declare that McCain was eligible, even though he was Ben in Panama. The founders didn’t JUST say “citizen,” they said “natural born citizen’” and there is definitely evidence to suggest what they meant. Then there’s Chester Arthur. (google is our friend)

That clarification is what many of us birthers were asking for, but it got lost in the screams from both sides of the political aisle who were telling us “crazies” to STFU.

If you say it means has to be born on US soil only… even if his mom and dad were both US citizens.. then you are going to have a fight with the majority on that definition.

It’s unreasonable, and is purely used to keep people who you don’t like from being president.

Legally, any person born of two US citizens is a natural born citizen. If you want to play symantics with that, prase the words legalize style to force your political partisan way, you have no credibility here, none.. McCain was born in Panama, is he ineligible?

The supposed Naural Born partisans here are attempting to force the narrowest possible definition on the rest of us, and they only win, if we say nothing.. they’re wrong..

Any attempt to google this web for a definition quickly comes back as meaningless,.. the birhers and Paul cultists have flooded the web with their supposed “conclusive” defintions, all self serving and all based irrelevant cases, and the writing of a Swiss born author. The US Supreme Court hasn’t defined it, and the defintions seems entirely based on personal opinion.

Meaning the Natural Law argument, is an opinion, not law.

Till the Congress, or the SCOTUS speaks on it, that’s all it will be.

The birhers by now, should have figured it out,.. with no definitive legal defintion, the only one left is the court of public opinion, which they have clearly lost. People don’t hear this highly narrow view and go… OMG.. we should imediately remove Obama from office, they almost always go…

“what a crank”……

The attempt also to wrap themselves in the flag and claim to be defending the Constitution, is as sappily corny as it is insulting. Bub, you ain’t championing anything but a coup,..

You already lost this argument, and the courts won’t over reach to redefine what most view as a common sense approach. The US didn’t have citizens all around the world in the 1700′s, few did.. so that a US citizen could be easily born abroad wasn’t even thought of,.. that’s why, nobody cares about the narrow defintion.. lots of us know people born of US parents, who were born overseas.

On the contrary. There are still cases pending in courts. This argument as not been lost. You want to just piss on the constitution and declare your version of NBC as “legitimate,” because you want to shut people up since you know you haven’t won anything.

Citizen does not equal natural born citizen, no matter how many times you say so. The issue needs to be resolved, and the definition needs to be clarified through an official process.. “Mark81150 says so,” is not an official process.

I think the best part of this thread is the Mittbots who appear to genuinely think Tebow somehow actually threatens Romney’s candidacy. They are so in the tank they will instinctively attack anyone who doesn’t heap praise on their boy.

I actually like Tebow. I just hate 90 percent of the media coverage that surrounds him, I hate the idea of Tebowing. If there is something we have learned from Tebow its that God doesn’t love you like he likes Tim, otherwise he would have made you 6 foot whatever, 250 lbs, all muscle. In comparison God hates you.

Tebow’s got determination and what he lacks in mechanics he’s got in determination. That aint God’s will out there, its his. So just remember kids, getting down on one knee looking constipated isn’t gonna turn that spare tire into a sixpack or enable you to throw sixty yards.

I think the best part of this thread is the Mittbots who appear to genuinely think Tebow somehow actually threatens Romney’s candidacy. They are so in the tank they will instinctively attack anyone who doesn’t heap praise on their boy.

I like Tim Tebow and have become a fan of the Broncos, while as a FSU-hometown supporter, I rooted against him. Didn’t do any good. :~/ So….can we just let the man play Football?? What he does after his career is up in the air. Right now…I love to watch his games and am looking forward to next Fall.

Irregardless is considered nonstandard because of the two negative elements ir- and -less. It was probably formed on the analogy of such words as irrespective, irrelevant, and irreparable. Those who use it, including on occasion educated speakers, may do so from a desire to add emphasis.(From Dictionary.com)

It appears it is a word. Sorry but if you look things up you may not look like a fool.

For those of you who are confused on this issue, Tim is a U.S. citizen even though he was born in the Phillipines. His American parents were Baptist Missionaries over there at the time. His home is in Jacksonville, Florida. So give it a rest and let’s move on the present important issues such as getting the Marxist Obama out of the White House.